Continuous card forms



y 1967 N. EICHORN- 3,322,441

CONTINUOUS CARD FORMS Filed Dec. 22, 1965 '2 Sheets-$heet 2 $000000 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOQOOOQOOOOOOO 00000 0000 00000 FIG. 6 j

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United States Patent 3,322,441 CONTiNUOUS CARD FQRMS Robert N. Eichorn, Endicott, N.Y., assignor to international Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N31, a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 515,557 2 Claims. (Cl. 2815) This invention relates in general to an improved kind of continuous for-m stationery and more particularly to continuous form connected tabulating cards.

It is known in the prior art to provide a continuous series of connected business instruments in the form of tabulating cards. The resulting continuous web includes marginal perforated strips whereby it is suited to be brought into a succession of several exact line space positions relative to the recording line of an addressing machine or a high speed printing machine. After the web is printed on, the marginal carrier strips are removed and the cards separated to form individual documents, such as checks or the like.

As shown in U.S. Patents 2,700,556 and 3,114,565, continuous card forms have been provided which may be one card wide or two card wide; however, in either case each tabulating card proper is bordered by the marginal perforated feeding strips and also by separable medial strip portions which extend transversely across the web between successive cards to connect the cards together into a continuous web. A continuous card form having this type of construction has several disadvantages. For example, after printing when it is desired to form the individual documents, two operations are required; namely, separation or peeling of the longitudinally extending marginal feeding strips and also separation or bursting of the transversely extending medial strip portions. Additionally, since the medial strip portions are broken away from the cards by means of offset perforations or cuts, the transverse or long edges of the cards are left with indentations and small tufts of paper fiber. Since these edges are the feeding edges of the cards when they are processed through tabulating machines, it is preferred to have these edges as straight, clean and unbroken as possible. Also, the use of the medial strip portions adds materially to the cost of the form and results in substantially more footage of material that has to be fed through the printing machine.

In overcoming the above disadvantages, the present improved continuous card forms eliminate the need for and use of the connecting medial strip portions. To accomplish this, the present forms are made from precut tabulating cards so that the long feeding edges of each card will be straight, clean and unbroken. Each tabulating card blank is provided with a pair of marginal pin feed strips separable from the shorter edges of the card by a tearing line comprising any suitable arrangement of slits connected with small areas of material joining the card and the marginal strips. To form the continuous web, the tabulating card blanks are arranged in a series with their longer precut edges in 'butt-to-butt relationship and the separable marginal pin feed strip portions are joined together by continuous narrow strips of polyester film or tape. Depending upon thestrength of form desired, the

3,322,441 Patented May 30, 1967 tapes may be secured on one side or on both sides of the pin feed strip portions. The tapes are preferably secured between the pin feed perforations and the outside edge of the pin feed strip portions and all that is required to convert the continuous form into individual tabulating cards having clean unbroken feeding edges is to simply separate or peel off the connected marginal pin feed strips.

In the case of a two card wide web, the tabulating cards would be precut in pairs with the left edge of one card and the right edge of its adjoining card connected together by a separable center support strip portion. In assembling the web, the center strip portions of abutted cards are connected together by a continuous tape as well as the two marginal pin feed strips. No transverse medial strips are used, and here again, individual tabulating cards having clean unbroken feeding edges are obtained simply by separating or peeling oif the connected marginal pin feed strips and the center support strip.

In both the one card wide and the two card wide forms, the butt-to-butt relationship of the cards results in a more economical form and in less footage that is required to be fed through the printing machines. The use of precut cards held together by continuous narrow tapes also facilitates zig-zag folding of the form, if desired.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved and more economical continuous form of connected tabulating cards.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved continuous form of tabulating cards wherein the cards are connected together in series without the use of transversely extending medical strips.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous form of connected tabulating cards wherein said cards are precut to include feeding edges which are straight, clean and unbroken.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous form of connected precut tabulating cards wherein said cards are connected together in buttto-butt relationship by continuous strips of polyester film or tape.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous form of connected precut tabulating cards, said cards having separable marginal pin feed strips and being connected together in butt-to-butt relationship by continuous strips of polyester film or tape secured along said marginal pin feed strips whereby separation of said cards is effected by simply peeling off said connected marginal pin feed strips.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a continuous form of connected precut tabulating cards which is adapted to be fed through high speed printing machines and zig-zag folded.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a two wide continuous form of connected precut tabulating cards wherein said cards are connected together in butt-to-butt relationship by continuous strips of polyester film or tape extending longitudinally down the middle and both marginal edges of the form.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a continuous form of connected precut tabulating cards wherein said cards are connected together in buttto-butt relationship by continuous strips of polyester film or tape, which strips are biased on alternate sides at the hinge points to provide controlled zig-zag folding of the form.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG.1 is a detailed view showing a series of connected precut tabulating cards forming a portion of two wide continuous card form stationery.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the form shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the form shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail view showing the connecting tapes rolled flush at assembly of a form.

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing an alternate construction of the connecting tapes.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing another embodiment of a series of connected precut tabulating cards forming a portion of one wide continuous card form stationery.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the form shown in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention is shown embodied in a two wide continuous strip 10 formed by a series of side-by-side cards 11 and 12 with marginal strips 13 and 14 on opposite edges thereof. The marginal strips 13 and 14 are provided with pin feeding perforations 15 and are separably joined to the cards along suitable tear lines. For purposes of illustration, the marginal strip tear lines are composed of simple straight slits 16 alternating with small connecting ties 17. This is an economical form of construction and it will be understood that any desired score configuration may be employed to form these tear lines. The adjacent short edges of the sideby-side cards are joined by a center strip portion 18. The center strip portion 18 of each card pair is defined by tear lines 19, which are shown to be similar to the tear lines 16, 17.

The side-by-side cards 11 and 12 are arranged in series in butt-to-butt relationship and are connected together by continuous strips or tapes 2% of polyester film or the like. A film strip 26 is provided along each of the marginal strips 13 and 14 and is positioned between the row of pin feeding perforations 15 and the outside edges of the marginal strips. A film strip 24) is also provided along the center strip portions 18. The film strips 20 are preferably fastened to the cards by adhesive; however, any suitable fastening means could be employed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, six film strips 20 are used, there being three film strips fastened on each side of the continuous card form 10. The continuous film strips in addition to connecting the cards serve also to reinforce the carrier strip 13 and 14 for strength and the number of strips used is optional and may depend upon the type and speed of the printing machine through which the cards are processed. For many applications three film strips fastened to one side of the card form will be sufiicient and for other applications two film strips will sufiice. Where two film strips are used they may take the form of a wrap-around rolled-down strip along each edge of the marginal strip portions, as shown by the film strip 21 in FIG. 5.

When using the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the film strips may be rolled flush at assembly as shown by the strips 22 in FIG. 4.

In those instances where the continuous card forms must be restacked after printing and before separation, such as when it is desired to print on the reverse sides of the cards, post-stretched or tensilized polyester film may be substituted. Momentary heating of alternate sides of the strips at the hinge points 23 (FIG. 2) will bias the hinge in the same direction as the applied heat. Controlled refolding will then result whenever the continuous card forms are lowered vertically from the printer to any fiat, horizontal, supporting surface.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a series of precut tabulating cards 24 connected to form a portion of one wide continuous card form stationery. The cards 24 are connected together with their longer edges in butt-to-butt relationship by either two or four film strips 25 cemented along the separable marginal pin feeding portions of the cards.

Connecting grain long cards, butt-tobutt, by short lengths or continuous strips of polyester film at the carrier strips only will produce a continuous card form for use in high speed printers wherein the cards may be easily separated simply by removal of the carrier strips with no bursting required. This permits in-line separation of cards making them available for distribution almost immediately after printing.

Also, as was previously mentioned, the precut transverse or long edges 26 of the cards, which are arranged in butt-to-butt relationship, are straight, clean and unbroken and since these edges are the feeding edges of the cards, this greatly facilitates the processing of the cards through tabulating machines.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A web of continuous form stationery comprising:

a series of precut tabulating cards arranged so that clean cut card edges which extend transversely across the web are in butt-to-butt relationship,

each card comprising a pair of marginal side strips detachably connected thereto by lines of tear perforations and each marginal strip being provided with longitudinally spaced pin-feed perforations disposed between the outer edges of the strip and the line of tear perforations,

the marginal side strips and pin-feed perforations of said series of cards being in alignment and continuous along the longitudinal edges of the web, and

a plurality of continuous film strips joining said cards in butt-to-butt relationship, said film strips extending along the longitudinal edges of the web and being secured to the front and back of said marginal side strips and between the pin feed perforations and the outer edges of the strips with alternate sides of said film strips being heated at the hinge points of the web to facilitate folding of the continuous card forms.

2. A web of continuous form stationery comprising:

a longitudinal series of pairs of precut tabulating cards with each pair of cards extending transversely across the web,

said series of pairs of cards arranged so that clean cut card edges which extend transversely across the web are in butt-to-butt relationship,

each pair of cards having a center support strip portion which is detachably connected to the right side of the left-hand card and to the left side of the righthand card by lines of tear perforations,

said center support strip portions being in alignment and continuous along the central portion of the web,

each pair of cards comprising a pair of marginal side strips detachably connected to the left side of the left-hand card and to the right side of the right-hand card by lines of tear perforations with each marginal strip being provided with longitudinally spaced pinfeed perforations disposed between the outer edge of the strip and the line of tear perforations,

the marginal side strips and pin-feed perforations of said series of cards being in alignment and continuous along the longitudinal edges of the web, and

a plurality of continuous film strips joining said pairs of cards in butt-to-butt relationship, there being continuous film strips extending along each longitudinal edge of the web and secured to the front and back of said marginal side strips and between the pin feed perforations and the outer edges of the strips, there being also continuous film strips extending along and secured to the front and back of said center support strip portions, the alternate sides of said film strips being heated at the hinge points of the Web to facilitate folding of the continuous card forms.

2,013,844 9/1935 Sherman 229-69 5/1916 Rand 206-56 1 6 Masterson et a1. 22969 Holmwood 282-115 X Deinlein et a1 206-56 Sornberger 281-5 Davy 281-5 OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 5, No. 4, September 1962, p. 10.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WEB OF CONTINUOUS FORM STATIONERY COMPRISING: A SERIES OF PRECUT TABULATING CARDS ARRANGED SO THAT CLEAN CUT CARD EDGES WHICH EXTEND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS THE WEB ARE IN BUTT-TO-BUTT RELATIONSHIP, EACH CARD COMPRISING A PAIR OF MARGINAL SIDE STRIPS DETACHABLY CONNECTED THERETO BY LINES OF TEAR PERFORATIONS AND EACH MARGINAL STRIP BEING PROVIDED WITH LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PIN-FEED PERFORATIONS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE OUTER EDGES OF THE STRIP AND THE LINE OF TEAR PERFORATIONS, THE MARGINAL SIDE STRIPS AND PIN-FEED PERFORATIONS OF SAID SERIES OF CARDS BEING IN ALIGNMENT AND CONTINUOUS ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE WEB, AND A PLURALITY OF CONTINUOUS FILM STRIPS JOINING SAID CARDS IN BUTT-TO-BUTT RELATIONSHIP, SAID FILM STRIPS EXTENDING ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THE WEB AND BEING SECURED TO THE FRONT AND BACK OF SAID MARGINAL SIDE STRIPS AND BETWEEN THE PIN FEED PERFORATIONS AND THE OUTER EDGES OF THE STRIPS WITH ALTERNATE SIDES OF SAID FILM STRIPS BEING HEATED AT THE HINGE POINTS OF THE WEB TO FACILITATE FOLDING OF THE CONTINUOUS CARD FORMS. 